Every day children’s lives are torn apart due to abuse. Some are removed from both parents and their homes in the middle of the night, some escape with one parent to a confidential safe house. Because they are escaping a violent environment, they hurriedly leave without their personal belongings and toys and are isolated from their family and friends for their safety. The Holidays can add additional stress and sadness for these children and the receiving homes responsible for them.

Sacramento Area Human Resource Association’s (SAHRA’s) Community Outreach Team and its members have made a three-month commitment to provide gifts for 120 children located in the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento and Casa de Esperanza in Marysville. Our goal is to reach out to every SAHRA member, their companies, and our community to collect new toys and/or gifts to bring a smile to these children.

Q: What motivated your team to take on this community project?
A: A new SAHRA member observed our dedication to community outreach during our monthly meeting and decided to bring his idea to our team. His moving company was willing to be a big part of making this event successful by providing collection boxes, deliveries, pick-up and storage of all the gifts. As the Community Outreach Team talked about the possibilities, our whole hearts and souls were immediately vested. The excitement and commitment was contagious, not only to our team and association, but to every one we talked to about "Smiling Faces."

Q: How did you select the organizations and how much effort did it take to coordinate this project?
A: Getting started and organizing a major project takes team work. First we selected a name: "Smiling Faces," which will reflect the children’s faces when they receive the gifts. Several organizations were interviewed to determine the goals and expectations. This included those who receive the least amount of funding from government and outside sources. Once the locations were selected, we asked for the children’s wish lists. We received items for newborns to 17-year-olds.

Q: How did you get the word out?
A: Our team advertised through SAHRA, at our monthly meetings, board meetings, newsletters, on the website and email blasts to our members. For quality control we selected one contact person from each company to coordinate their donations. The dates were chosen for the final pick-up. Next, a gift wrapping party was planned and a final count to assure everyone on the list would receive a gift. Some cash donations were made to be utilized for last minute gifts or donations to families. Finally we coordinated the drop-off dates for the two donation sites: Casa de Esperanza will receive their gifts on December 16 and Children’s Receiving Home will receive their gifts on December 22.

Q: Has the response to this project been positive?
A: I feel so much gratitude towards the SAHRA members, their companies, friends, and families. Two weeks before Thanksgiving all 120 children had a sponsor. Members continue to call and want to help. With their generosity we are expanding the holiday donations to the older youth with gifts to help them as they transition to independent living. I am absolutely thrilled with the results. WOW!